Clark tells Dems city is ‘devastated’ with the cuts that loom

Monday

Jan 21, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM

In addition to addressing concerns over the Measure L Advisory Committee re-visioning purpose, Mayor Dan Clark spoke on the general concerns of the budget at Saturday’s Democratic Club of the High Desert’s brunch.Clark noted some potentially harsh decisions coming up in the next budget process.“We’re faced with another $800,000 budget cut next year and we’re absolutely devastated with what we’re going to do,” he said.

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Clark did not specify what decisions needed to be made. However, during the Dec. 19 city council meeting, many programs, including parks and recreations, were put on notice about their budgets.The city itself had to make many cuts for the remainder of the FY 2012-13 year after being broadsided by reports that first-quarter revenues for the city was less than expected.“”I don’t know that we can cut anymore to be totally honest,” Clark said. “We have departments made up of one person; the city can’t run without a planner, it can’t run without a parks and recreation director. We’re going to have to consolidate or something.”He encouraged the public to give its input when budget discussions began coming up in city council meetings.Clark said revenue building and economic development should be a priority rather than cutting at the other end.“I don’t know where we can cut $800,000 at and it scares me to death,” he said. “Economic development has got to be a solution to our problems right now.”A question was floated about why China Lake NAWS did not take advantage of and support the community economically. Clark said that it was a subject he was looking into.“Our base doesn’t pay taxes and that has been our biggest concern,” he said. “Many communities our size have $60 or $70 million budgets. We have a $13 million budget.”Clark said in looking at that, Ridgecrest has been able to say solvent up to present while other cities in the state have gone bust.Ridgecrest faced a potential $1.2 million shortfall had it not made a number of cuts and creative adjustments to its budgets. This included utilizing a $625,000 settlement from Kern County to fill a budget gap in addition to fulfilling some obligations. In addition, $575,000 received from Benz Sanitation as part of a settlement will be used as a reserve fund for up to two years. The amount was initially a loan from the Wastewater fund that was due to be paid back.DCHD president Ron Carter said that the city had engaged with Kevin McCarthy about Congress helping Ridgecrest at least with helping to make up with declining property tax revenue.“He has told us no over and over again and that really disappoints me,” Carter said. Carter asked if McCarthy could do anything to help the city.Clark pointed out that one thing that McCarthy and city government shares is that the congressman would not support any bills that have “write-arounds” in them.“I respect that but the other side of the issue is that it hurts us as a community because he has laid down the law that it’s the way he is going to operate as a congressman.,” Clark said.Club officer nominationsThe DCHD also moved on with nominations for its officers for 2013. Ron Carter was nominated for president, Odessa Newman-Staples as its vice president, and Eddie Edwards as its secretary-treasurer.A fourth position was added to the nomination process, with Matthew Alexander being nominated for public relations officer. The club will vote next month to confirm its officers.In addition, Carter congratulated Howard Laire on his appointment to the Desert Empire Fair’s board of directors. Laire was appointed to the board by Gov. Jerry Brown on Nov. 16 along with Kim Alexander.